In her
letter in the Summer 2001 issue, Lori Ginzberg '78 wondered why the
College was concerned about a "gender gap" in male admissions and opposed
the affirmative action approach to attract more males. I agree that
affirmative action (a politically correct word for quota) is a bad idea
but wonder aloud what would attract a heterosexual male to Oberlin College
at this point in time? The 1999 Insider's Guide to Colleges notes that
a "substantial" number of gay couples populate the campus and that Oberlin
has a Drag Ball. No other college is so described. If you read The Review
you also note a considerable number of articles addressing various gender
issues, perhaps to a degree not found at other colleges. Without making
any moral judgements (sexual preference is a biological rather than
moral issue), I wonder why a heterosexual male seeking a sexual or possible
life partner would attend a school where the odds are so weighted against
him? My college-age son skipped Oberlin for more mainstream places.
As noted by an alumna letter some time back, Oberlin is socially skewed
now in ways that may have long-term implications for the College. Alas,
I have no particular solution to what undoubtedly is seen by many gender-conscious
Obies as a non-problem. The College, though, does run the risk of becoming
even more extreme in its sexual ratio. With tongue only somewhat in
cheek, I wonder if Oberlin should foster the trend and become the first
openly gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender college. I would appreciate
not being labeled as some type of homophobe by stating obvious factors
involved in college selection by adolescent males. After all, one can
be a sensitive, even feminist-supporting, male without being gay. Discrimination
goes both ways.

Stephen Golder '70Falmouth, Massachusetts

A letter in the Summer 2001 issue recommends that "Oberlin consider
closely the cost of admitting more men, as such." The writer does not
delineate "the cost," beyond agreeing "that there is a problem with
boys in our society and our schools," doubting that the solution is
"a more aggressive affirmative action program for white boys," implying
that "admitting greater numbers of men (or football players) would lower
academic and social standards," and worrying that men will not share
"Oberlin's traditions." I applaud Oberlin for seeking to make itself
more attractive to men. Oberlin's long-term viability depends on its
ability to compete successfully for students. The broader the range
of qualified students it can compete for, the more successful it will
be, both academically and financially. Relying on niche markets for
students is not the route to long-term academic excellence. About half
of the future pool of students is male, so Oberlin must make itself
attractive to a broader spectrum of intelligent men. As it succeeds
in that, it will also become more attractive to a broader spectrum of
intelligent women. To broaden its appeal to both men and women, Oberlin
must have competitive male and female athletic teams, including football.
Athletics are part of a well-rounded campus environment. For many, attending
sports events such as a Saturday afternoon football game is an important
part of their college experience. Athletes add a valuable dimension
to the diversity of the student body and should be valued for their
uniqueness. Like other unique groups, they have special needs and circumstances
that must be respected, understood, and accommodated. For example, the
many hours they spend at practice, games, and travel reduce their time
available for study and may cause them to under-perform academically
in both high school and college. I applaud President Dye and the trustees
for their new commitment to athletic vitality. Hopefully, Oberlin will
move closer to where it was in the early '50s, when I was there. It
ranked as one of the top two or three liberal arts colleges in the nation.
It had winning athletic teams, including football. The male sector of
my class produced three Oberlin professors: Geoffrey Blodgett, Norman
Craig, and Herbert Henke. Two of them were football players. The palette
of Oberlin's traditions changes over time, but is rooted in striving
for excellence, open mindedness, and diversity. The perception of the
details of that palette varies from decade to decade, and even among
students in the same class, but with different campus experiences and
friends. During my four years, I never found that "just being different"
was an Oberlin tradition.

Floyd
L. Smith '53

New
York, New York

FISK
SINGERS EVOKE PRIDEAs
I read Andrew Ward's profile (Summer 2001) about his discovery of
Oberlin connections with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, a sense of pride
and nostalgia overwhelmed me. This summer I attended a church music
convention in Washington, DC. Besides the delight of visiting an Obie
classmate there, returning to Washington since my first visits as
a freshman in 1970 unleashed a flood of emotion. I was privileged
to be in DC on tour with the College choir the last year of Robert
Fountain's leadership, and it was to the National Cathedral that students
and faculty returned to sing Mozart's "Requiem" in response to the
killing of students at Kent State. This summer we conventioneers attended
a concert by Sweet Honey in the Rock, an extraordinary quintet of
African-American women who sing everything from traditional African
music to the new music that comes out of African-American history,
accompanied occasionally by percussion instruments they play. One
of the most poignant moments of the whole convention was a comment
from one of the singers, who said (and I paraphrase) that they sing
the music of their ancestors because it is on

their
backs that they are able to make life's journey, and so they honor
them. Andrew Ward's comments brought me to tears because they reminded
me that I am connected with a college that has been deeply involved
"outside the walls" in pivotal moments of American and world history.
Amidst the scramble for attracting students and finances, my hope
is that the College president and the power structure keep me proud
of being an undeserving graduate of such a unique institution.